I have a distinct memory of the first time that I heard the music of
Charles Ives. In graduate school, I stumbled across "Putnam's Camp,
Redding Connecticut" from Three Places in New England. . .
It was like nothing else that I'd ever heard! I vividly remember laughing
out loud at the music's joyful vitality. I'd never heard music that contained
so much: it was raucous and rowdy, but it was also as fleeting and evanescent
as a dream. Ives seemed to have captured the wondrous flux and confusion
of life. It grabbed me by the collar, and shouted: "Hey, you! You're alive!"

Why Did I Build This Site?

I built this site because I love Ives' music, and I wanted to share my
experience of his music with others. I am not a musician or a musicologist.
I'm not qualified--in the academic sense--to speak about Ives and his
music. I have worked hard to ensure that the facts accurate, but I've
leaned heavily on Ives scholars for the facts. So, first and foremost,
I am a fan, a listener who is interested in learning more about Ives and
his music.

A few other reasons that I built the site:

I think Ives' music is still misunderstood--largely because it defies
categorization. I'd like to think that I might contribute toward helping
others understand what Ives was trying to do musically.

I had the perfect excuse to go buy all of the Ives recordings that
I've wanted for years.

I began fiddling around with Dreamweaver and PhotoShop. This is what
I made.

One last thought: Id also be interested in hearing about your experience
of Ives. I built this site in part to share my thoughts with others. But
I also built it so others would share their thoughts with me! So write
me! Why do you like Ives?

I listen to all sorts of music other than Ives. In fact, I take pride
in having broad tastes in music. Click here
if you'd like to look over a list of some of my other favorites. The list
will give you a sense of where I'm coming from musically.

More About Me

My name is Scott Mortensen. I live in Marietta, Georgia, just outside
of Atlanta. I am married to Lynet, and we have four children.

I work for a bank that's based in Atlanta, and work on team that specializes
in corporate communications. (I also have a master's degree in literature.
Don't ask me why I work for a bank!) When I'm not at work, I like to spend
time with my family, read, and listen to music.

If you'd like to contact me, my e-mail address is Scottkmort@hotmail.com.
I'd love to hear about your experiences with Ives' music, your favorite
recordings, concert reviews, etc. I'd also like to hear from you if you
see any mistakes on the site.